Five remanded over unauthorised modification of phones

The  City Hall Court has  remand of five individuals to Luzira Prison for allegedly  fraudulently modifying over 3,000 mobile phones obtained through loan schemes.

The accused allegedly tampered with these devices to evade repayments, undermining the integrity of the financing program and defrauding asset financing companies.

The suspects include Nelson Mukisa from Matuga, Benjamin Ssekama, a barber from Bugooba Village in Seeta, Umaru Nsubuga from Bukoto Parish, Michelle Martin (also known as Hassan), a technician from Nansana Municipality, and Joseph Kyakuwa from Natete, Rubaga Division.

They also  face charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud asset financing companies by altering the software of loan-provided phones to evade repayment tracking.

Prosecution, led by Grade One Magistrate Edgar Kakaire,

Prosecution told court that  the accused exploited the financing system by fraudulently acquiring phones intended to provide low-income earners with affordable mobile access.

These loans were designed with integrated tracking mechanisms to ensure eventual repayment.

By circumventing these systems, the accused allegedly aimed to avoid repayment and later resell the phones for profit.

The five were arrested on October, 4 during an operation by police.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Area Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the accused disabled or “flashed” the phone software, erasing identifying data such as serial numbers.

This tampering rendered the phones untraceable through the tracking systems used by financing companies.

"The accused removed critical tracking information from the devices, making it impossible for the companies to locate and retrieve them," Onyango said.

“We urge the public to desist from such behavior. Anyone caught in fraudulent schemes like this will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”